It is worth while to expatiate on the beauties of ideal lives, as—
"The thing that we long for, that we are
For one transcendent moment."
In one sense that which is ideal is intangible and unattainable, for, as fast as we approach unto our ideals, just so speedily do they recede. Nevertheless, we could not dispense with these ideals, as they are the goals to which we are constantly looking in our growth to higher and nobler lives.
In the consideration of this subject our minds instantly revert to the ideal Man, the Man of Nazareth, and from His grand life we form our conceptions of ideal traits of manhood.
The ideal husband is strong in will, but not obstinate. He yields gracefully, when no principle is involved. He considers his wife an equal and a companion.
He is clean and wholesome, mentally, physically, and spiritually. He is cultured in his tastes, neat, and well-groomed; manly-looking, but not necessarily handsome, else he might be more in love with his mirror than his wife. He casts off cares, when occasion demands, and becomes a pleasant companion.
He is a man of strong opinions, but he does not "resolve himself into a section of the day of judgment, and fulminate anathemas against all who chance to differ with him."
He so believes in his wife's judgment and consideration as to let her know the financial status of the family. He gives her an allowance of her own, for private needs. Niggardliness toward a wife, or distrust of her where money is concerned, is a sure way of sapping a wife's love.
During the evening he is never so absorbed in his newspaper as to be like a sphinx to his wife and family. Occasionally he even drops his own reading, and takes up his wife's book, reading to her a few chapters, while she sews or rests.
The ideal husband is a devoted lover thru-out married life. He understands woman's nature enough to know that a woman would rather be loved a little less, and hear of it once in a while, than to be loved more, yet never hear it from the lips of the man beloved.
"There is nothing quite so fine, so real, so truly great, as the tender consideration born of love, sympathy, and appreciation, that a husband has a daily, yes, an hourly chance to show to the woman who has given her life into his hands. And there is nothing that a woman can stand so much of as consideration."
Consideration in all things, born of love, sympathy, and appreciation, complete a "combination which raises a man to the highest pinnacle of a woman's love and respect."
"You perhaps have heard of the man who protested his willingness to die for his wife, but always forgot to pass her the salt. Well, I should prefer the man who passes the salt, for life is made up of the common, everyday services of the apparently trivial sort."
"And now," you ask, "what about looks and wealth?" Possession of the penny, or dollar, does not matter so much as the ability to produce them. And, if he possesses a portion of the starlike virtues mentioned, and is striving to attain unto the rest, it matters not whether he be not tall, fair, or comely.
To the ideal wives I would say that it remains largely with you to make or to mar your ideal man.